The Post and Mailhttp://www.thepostandmail.com/node/13811/atom/feed2014-04-17T14:49:13-04:00GERMAN ORTHOPEDICS COMPANY OPENS OPERATIONS IN WHITLEY COUNTYhttp://www.thepostandmail.com/content/german-orthopedics-company-opens-operations-whitley-county2014-04-17T14:49:13-04:002014-04-17T14:49:13-04:00editor

The Rostock, Germany-based orthopedics company is investing approximately $4.5 million to lease, renovate and equip a 17,520 square-foot facility in Columbia City’s Blue River Industrial Park. The facility, the company’s first location outside of Germany, is enabling DOT to fill a gap in the supply chain to its North American clients.

The Rostock, Germany-based orthopedics company is investing approximately $4.5 million to lease, renovate and equip a 17,520 square-foot facility in Columbia City’s Blue River Industrial Park. The facility, the company’s first location outside of Germany, is enabling DOT to fill a gap in the supply chain to its North American clients.

“For their first facility outside Germany, DOT’s leaders embarked on a search for the best stable and affordable business climate,” said Pence. “Though still in its early stages, DOT has already found that and more in Indiana, the worldwide center of the orthopedics industry. With our skilled Hoosier workforce behind them, we are pleased that more and more German companies like DOT continue to select Indiana as their North American home.”

DOT currently employs more than 290 full-time associates in Germany. It has already begun hiring engineers and technicians at its Columbia City location, which opened in November 2013.

“DOT offers valuable surface treatment services to the orthopedic and medical industry in Indiana and the United States. Although business relations with U.S. customers are already well established, the generation of further growth needs direct market presence,” said Hans Eifeler, managing director of DOT. “DOT chose to establish its North American operations in Indiana primarily because the world’s leading orthopedic companies are located here. In addition, Indiana has a positive, welcoming business climate for foreign investors.”

Founded in 1992, DOT develops and supplies medical coating treatment technology for implants and instruments for the orthopedics industry under the name DOTImplantSource. In addition, under the name DOTbiomaterials the company develops and manufactures regenerative medicine products for the dental and orthopedic industries. With customers around the world, DOT also maintains a research and development team for the improvement of existing coatings and developing new coatings.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered DOT America, Inc. up to $50,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Columbia City will consider additional property tax abatement at the request the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.

“We are pleased to welcome DOT to Columbia City,” said Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel. “DOT joins a growing number of companies in our community involved in the medical device supply chain.”

DOT is the third German company this week to announce plans to add jobs and invest in the Hoosier State, reaffirming Germany’s strong impact across Indiana. Earlier this week, NORRES, a German industrial hose manufacturer, announced plans to base its North American operations in South Bend and German extrusion manufacturer Jäger Group made plans to expand its subsidiary Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions in La Porte.

This week, Pence is leading an economic development and jobs mission across Germany, sharing why Indiana is a state that works for German companies to grow and thrive. More information about the governor’s job-hunting trip can be found at: http://in.gov/gov/Germany2014.htm.